Single Region
Saga, Ureshino / Yamé, Fukuoka, Japan.
Blend
Local cultivars.
Green Tea
Premium Matcha.
New Harvest
Spring 2020.
A fresh tea from the new harvest 2020. Matcha is always aged for at least half a year before it is released for consumption. This batch of matcha has just become available in November 2020. The tea leaf obtained in May was rested until November, whereupon it was milled and made ready for consumption.
Its characteristics are liquid of a beautiful deep green color, topped when properly whipped by a bright, pastel-green froth.
It offers a full-bodied, rounded but transient aroma, and a slight tickle of astringency that is sensed along the sides of the tongue.
About the manufacturer
Masaya Yamaguchi
President at Hoshino Seicha-en
Heir to the Yamaguchi tea manufacturer family at Hoshino Seicha-en. Master tea blender and taster, having obtained the highest national qualification for skill in tea assessment. Chashi (Tea master blender) 10th-Dan.
About the tea garden
Hoshino
Tea farms.
Altitude 200~400 m.
The Saga, Ureshino / Yame area is famed for its natural hot springs and the sweet and tasty teas produced in this region.
Soil type:
The soil in this region contains a variety of loose stones and pebbles, which increases the amount of minerals included in the freshly produced tea leaf.
Surroundings:
The manufacturer factory is located in the valley of Ureshino, but most of the farms are dispersed in the surrounding mountains of the Ureshino and Yame areas.
Environmental circumstances:
For fertilisation only organic manure has been used. The farmers also produce their own compost, which is added as additional nourishment for the tea bushes.
Brewing guidelines
Amount of tea
1.25g
(two and a half tea scoop)
Water temperature
80℃
Water amount
70cc
Steeping duration
Whisk briskly
with a bamboo tea whisk
Additional comments:
Use one teaspoon of matcha and 70~90cc of hot water and add into a tea bowl.
Use a bamboo tea whisk to whisk a froth onto the tea.
The matcha stone mills used to ground the tea powder.
The tea gardens of Hoshino / Yame.
10th-Dan Masaya Yamaguchi and me.
Learn more (video content):
Yame Matcha
$35.00
Phil (verified owner) –
As I stated in the title, this was my first time (knowingly) drinking matcha from Kyūshū. I was pleasantly surprised by a slightly floral aroma which I normally associate with high-quality sencha. The description is correct regarding the aspects of the flavor, and I enjoyed the sweet aftertaste left in my mouth. The powder whipped up nicely, and the only detraction for me was that my last sip was slightly grainy (could have been my fault).
Phil (verified owner) –
I would like to revise my previous review. On a second making of the tea, I did not at all experience the graininess that I mentioned. I think I neglected to dry the bowl enough after warming it up before putting the powder inside. I would also like to say that the packaging is quite nice, and I appreciate having both the metal lid, and the plastic stopper inside to help prevent oxygenation.
Wolfgang (verified owner) –
This Matcha is nice to see and drink.
Good colour and a very good tast.
Sweet taste after drinking.
Teatiff (verified owner) –
After watching the video it makes me even more grateful that I was able to experience this matcha. The aroma is pleasant. Slight dark chocolate. The mouthfeel is incredibly smooth. Literally feels silky. Even the after taste, which is slightly astringent, leaves you feeling silky. The umami is fairly high but there is a crisp and clean feeling that reminds me of rain-washed fresh vegetables. The powder is very soft and sifts easily. The color isn’t the greenest I’ve seen but still close to jade. Great taste to the dry powder. I generally drink mine as thin tea but I can see this also being good for thick tea with sweets on the side.
Daria (verified owner) –
I’m not an expert, I’m just a simple “matcha lover” with absolutely no “tasting experience”, but when you drink this matcha you feel literally overwhelmed with its great sweetness and harmony and balance, and you feel that life is a beautiful mistery. This matcha warmed my heart and my soul! Thanks so much to all the farmers who grew it, to the 10th Dan tea blender Yamaguchi san and to Tyas for his passionate effort in spreading the word of japanese tea outside Japan!
Robert Mihok (verified owner) –
actually this one is my favourite so far, very nice velvety taste, bit like toasted nuts, me and my wifey loves this one, would be great to have this in 100 g package as well
Richard Panse (verified owner) –
I have to say that this is a superb matcha. I have purchased matcha from many different places and online sellers in the past and this matcha is amazing. It ranks up there with a can of matcha that I purchased in Kyoto in 2019. I will definitely be buying this again. I love the color and the slightly sweet taste that it has.